Corn-sheller.



U PATENTED JUNE 9, 1903. Y

F. G. PAT-TEN. CORN SHBLLER. APPLICATION TILED APR. 28, 1902. NO MODEL.3 sums-sum 1.

Wime; Q 33W HE RUFF No. 730.563. V PATENTED JUNE 9, 1903.

, Y 'P. 0. PATTEN.

001m SHELLBR'.

' APPLICATION FILED APR. 28, 1 902. 0 MODEL a sums-sum 2 No. 780,568. 4PATENTED JUNE 9,1903.

I5. 0. PATTEN;

CORN SHELLER.

v APPLIUA TION'FILED APR. 28 1902. K0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented June 9, 1903.

- PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK C. PATTENQOF SYCAMORE, ILLINOIS. I

CORN-SHELLER;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters IPatent 0. 730,563, dated June 9,1903.

Application filed April 28, 1902. {serial No. 105,013. (No model.)

To all whont it may concern.-

Be-it known thatI, FRANK C. PATTEN, of the city of Sycamore, county ofDekalb, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements'in Corrrshellers, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in corn-shellers, and refers-morespecifically to improvements of that type of corn-sheller commonly knownas hand-shellers, as dis tinguished from those which are operated byhorse or other power.

Among the salient objects of the invention are to provide a shellerhaving an improved compensating jaw which automatically adjusts itselfto cars of widely-varying size, thereby both rendering the shellermore-effective and thorough in its operation and operable with lesspower, to provide improvements in the details of construction of saidjaw and cooperating parts, to simplify the structural features of thedevice in general, and to so construct the parts as to render theirassemblement both inexpensive and capable of being accomplished withaminimum expenditure of labor and fitting of parts, and, in general, tosimplify and improve the construction of a device of the characterreferred to.

To the above ends the inventionconsists in the matters hereinafterdescribed, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, andthe same will be readily understood from the following description, inwhich- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a sheller embodying myinvention, the device being viewed from the side opposite that to whichthe crank is applied. Fig. 2 is a top plan view. -Fig. 3 is a top planview with the top casing removed. Fig. dis a sideview from the sideopposite that shown in Fig. 1 with the side casing, however, removed andcertain parts shown in section; and Fig. 5 is a sectional detail takenon line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 1 2 designate the end frame-standards, whichin addition to forming the supports or lugs forthe main frame also formthe end walls of the casing of the machine, as best indicated in Fig. 3,said standards being conveniently provided at their lower ends withlateral extensions 3 to forma sufficient base width to afford suitablestability to the structure. Across the upper portions of the endstandards 1 and 2 are secured the side frame members or casings,(designated asa whole land 5,) these side casings being in the mostapproved construction made sectional, so as to provide horizontal jointsor meeting liuesfdesignated 6 and 7) at the opposite sides of themachine intermediate of the vertical width of the casings. Between themeeting edges of the sec tions 8 and 9 and 8' and 9 are interposed journal-castings l0 and 11, respectively,which are of peculiar construction,as will hereinafter appear, and which serve to support the three mainshafts 12, 13, and 14 of the mech ani'sm.

The shaft 12, which will for convenience of description be hereinaftertermed the main shaft, is extended out through the casing at theright-hand side of the machine and through the journal-boss 11, formedupon the casting 11, and is provided at its said outer end with asuitable crank-handle 15. At a point immediately inside of the casing 5said main shaft is provided with a pinion 16, which is arranged tointermesh with a larger pinion or spur-gear 17, mounted upon the shaft14, which-latter carries also the toothed picker-wheel 18 of thesheller. The picker-wheel is preferably and as shown here= in castintegral with the gear 17, and said wheel is likewise provided with anintegral second larger gear 19, which intcrlneshes with a pinion 20,rigidly mountedv upon the shaft 13, whichcarries the feed-wheel 21 andalso at its outer end outside of the casing of the machinethebalance-wheel 22.

The picker wheel 18 so faras its acting face is concerned is of theusual construction and provided with the usual teeth 23, arranged atsuitable spaces apart over the greater part of that one of its faceswhich is adjacentto the feed-wheel 21, and the feed-wheel 21 is also ofsubstantially the construction heretofore common, except that I havefound that the efliciency of the combination is increased by making thefeed-ribs 2st of the feed-wheel to extend across the operating-face ofthe wheel in lines parallel with the axis of the wheel instead of moreor less spirally, as has heresimultaneously to shell the corn therefrom,and the peculiar mounting and construction of this rag-iron constitutesone of the salient features of the present invention. Heretotore it hasbeen common to mount the rag iron upon spring-supports which wereadjustable in direct lines and in the direction of a line dividing theangle between the face of the feed-wheel and the face of the picker-Wheel, or approximately so. Obviously when thus mounted and adjusted themovement of the rag-iron in its direction of adjustment served toincrease or decrease the approximately triangular opening or throatthrough which the ear is passed in the shelling operation and preservedsubstantially the same relation of the parts to each other during thedifierent positions of adjustment.

In the improved construction illustrated the rag-iron is arranged toextend downwardly into the angle between the picker-wheel andfeed-wheel, substantially in the manner heretofore common, and saidrag-iron is provided at its upper end with an outwardly-extending armportion 26, which engages a shaft or axis member 27, having its lowerend en-. gaged with ajournal-aperture formed through the journal-casting10 (see particularly Fig. 1) and its upper end engaged with a springmechanism now to be described, the axis member being arranged to extendin a direction approximately parallel with the general direction of thelength of the rag -iron and also parallel with the outer face of theeasing, adjacent to which it is mounted.

At its rear side the axis member 27 of the rag-iron is provided with arearwardly-projecting extension 28, which is apertured, as indicated at29, to receive the hooked end of a tension-bolt 30, which extendsinwardly through a suitable aperture in the side casing of the machineand is at its opposite end connected with a plate-spring 31, mountedupon the interior face of said side casing, as shown clearly in Fig. 3.The opposite end of said spring 31 passes through a fulcrum-block 32 andat its extreme end is attached to an adjusting-bolt 33, seated in asuitable aperture, so as to extend through the side casing, and providedat its outer end with a thumbnut 24, whereby the tension upon the springmay be adjusted by shortening or lengthening the bolt. Obviously thedegree of pres sure with which the spring 31 draws the tension-boltinwardly determines the pressure which will be exerted by the rag-ironupon the ear passing, through the throat, since movement of the rag-ironwill be upon the axis of the shaft 27 and will therefore be inopposition to or under the tension of the spring 31.

In order to adjustably limitthe approach of the rag-iron to thecooperating shellerwheels, I provide a wedge-shaped or taperingslide-block 35, having its tapered end slotted or forked to embrace thetension-bolt, as indicated at 36, and provided also with a slot 37,through which extends the bolt 38, whereby it is adj ustably secured tothe side casing of the machine. The inclined or wedgeshaped portion ofthe slide-block 35 underlies the projection 28 of the axis member of therag-iron, and thus serves to limit the inward movement of the latterunder the tension of the spring 31, and by adjustment of 'face of thepicker-wheel the cob-chute, into which the cob drops after beingstripped of its kernels and through which it is conveyed and dischargedthrough the rectangular opening 40 at the rear side of the machine. Saidmember 39 is preferably in the form of a casting, the lower edge ofwhich is curved approximately concentric with the periphery of thepicker-Wheel and is inclined from the side casing obliquely downwardlyand inwardly toward the picker-wheel and approaches at its lower edgesufficiently near the latter to prevent the cobs from dropping through,while permitting free discharge of t-he shelled corn. The rear end ofthe casting is suitably shaped to provide the discharge-opening 40, asindicated clearly in Fig. 3, an overlying or upper side extension 41being provided, which prevents the cobs from being thrown upwardly bythe impetus imparted thereto by the picker-wheel and insuring theirdischarge outwardly through the opening.

42 (see Fig. 4) designates a guard secured to the interior of the sidecasing 5 in position to overlie the pinion 20 and the adjacent portionof the picker-wheel, so as to prevent the kernels of corn and pieces ofcob from dropping i-nto the intermeshing gears over which said guardextends.

As afcatu re of simplified and improved construction I form that portionof the casing which forms the top,which extends from the feed-hopper 43rearwardly and downwardly to the upper end of the rear end standard 1,as a casting 44,which is provided'with a suitable aperture 45 to receiveand support the discharge end of the member 39, said casting 44 alsoaffording a suitable means of detachably supporting the feed-hopper 43,as will now be described. To this end the upper and forward end of saidcasting is provided at a point in alinement with the center of thethroat of the machine with a keyhole-like aperture 46,

. (see Fig. 2,) adapted to receive a button 47,

fixed upon the under side of the feed-hopper 43, and the feed-hopper isprovided at a suitable point upon its under side with a cleat 48, (seeFig. 1,) which when the button is engaged with the slot 46serves to holdthe button in the narrow part thereof, and thus holds the hoppersecurely in place.

As a further improvement in the details of construction I form that partof the top of the casing which contains the throat, leading from thehopper to the sheller mechanism, of a casting 49, secured upon the upperedges of the side and end frames and having an integral throat portion50 extending obliquely downwardly and rearwardly to direct the ears ofcorn into suitable shelling position. The casting 49 is provided at oneedge with a bearing-aperture 51, which receives and supports the upperend of the axis member 27 of the rag-iron, hereinbefore described,asshown clearly in Fig. 1. The hopper43 is of usual construction and isprovided at its discharge end with a suitable aperture 52, whichregisterswith the throat member 50 of the casting 49 when the hopper isin position.

Referring again to the manner in which the three main shafts 12, 13, and14 of the mechanism are mounted and supported, this constitutes one ofthe features of improvement of the present invention which contributesgreatly to the economy of construction and lessens the amount of laborinvolved in as sembling the machine. To this end each of the castings 10and 11 is made of I shape in cross-section, as best shown in detail,Fig. 5, throughout its principal length and enlarged and apertured atsuitable points to receive the several journal portions of the shafts12, 13, and 14;. As hereinbefore mentioned, the castings 10 and 11 areinterposed betweenthe meeting edges of the joints of the side casingmembers, and when thus arranged the lateral webs or flanges 10 serve tohold the castings accurately and securely mounted upon the side framemembers, it being under stood that the width between the flanges of theopposite sides of' the castings is equal to the thickness of the sidecasing, as shown clearly in said detail, Fig. 5. In order to mount thecastings, therefore, it is only necessary to cut away the edges of themeeting casing members slightly to accommodate the central portion 10"of the casting and to accommodate the enlargements which receive theseveral shafts, it being understood that the flanges 10' will becontinued around the enlargement, as well as through the interveningportions of the castings.

The sheller is provided in the lower part of its casing with the usualfan 53, the shaft of which is journaled in suitable bearings 54 and 55,which extend diametrically across the airinlet openings 56 and aresuitably secured to the exterior sides of the casing. Between thebalance-wheel on the proximate side of the casing is secured abelt-wheel 57, which carries a belt 58, arranged to drive the fan 53through the medium of a small belt-wheel 59,

secured upon the fan-shaft. The interior of the sheller is provided withthe usual inclined partition-guides 60 and 61, which direct the shelledcorn to the central part of the machine and discharge it in the form ofa broad and relatively thin stream or sheet which inter'sects thedischarge-passage 62 of the fan.

entirely obvious from the foregoing description; but'it should bementioned in this connection that owing to the pivotal mounting of therag-iron upon an axis located concentrically thereto a peculiar and mostefiective operation of the shelling mechanism is secured. This may beexplained as being due to the fact that as the rag-iron recedes from thecooperating sheller-Wheels to accommodate the larger cars it alsochangesits angle,

-so as to press the ear more directly between itself and thepicker-wheel. The result of this operation is that the larger ears arerotated about their own axes or bodily more rapidly than the smallerears and are fed forwardly by the feed-wheel perhaps somewhat lessrapidly than are the smaller ears. The result is that the corn isstripped from the cob by the ribs of the feed-wheel notwithrotation ofthe ear of corn corresponding to the lesser diameter of the latter, andconsequently shorter circumferential distance which the ear travels inhaving successive spirals of kernels removed.

Another feature of importance which I secure by the construction andarrangement shown is the much greater range of movement of the rag-ironwithout very substantially changing the tension of the spring andwithout readjustment. Owing to the peculiar arrangement of parts it isentirely practicable toshell ears of extremely small diameter and earsof extremely large diameter alternately without changing the adjustmentof the machine and in' each case to shell the ear thoroughly, rapidly,and with the expenditure of a minimum amount of power.

While I have herein shown and described what I deem to be a preferredembodiment of cooperating picker and feed wheels arranged to form anangle between their acting faces which is not greater than ninetydegrees, of a rag-iron mounted to move in the angle between said wheelsin a curved path, the tangents of which curve constantly approachparallelism with a line perpendicular to the face of the picker-wheel assaid rag-iron recedes from the wheels.

2. In a corn-sheller, the combination with picker and feed wheelsarranged to form an angle between their acting faces which is notgreater than ninety degrees, of a springpressed rag-iron mounted to movein the angle between said wheels in a curved path upon an axis locatedeccentrically of the longitudinal axis of the rag-iron, whereby thepressure of which at its inner limit of movement is chiefly against theface of the feedwheel but changes as said rag-iron recedes to act moreand more directly against the pickerwheel.

3. In acorn-sheller, the combination with a picker-wheel and afeed-wheel, of a springpressed rag-iron mounted to extend into the angleformed between the operating face portions of said sheller-wheels andinclined downwardly and rearwardly, an axis member mounted with its axisarranged to extend substantially parallel to the general direction ofthe rag-iron and at a distance therefrom, and a lateral extensionconnecting said ragiron and axis member whereby the former is mounted toreciprocate in a curved path, substantially as described.

4. In a corn-sheller, the combination with a picker-wheel and afeed-wheel arranged in cooperative relation to each other, of a rag-ironarranged to extend into the angle formed between the operatingfaces ofsaid shellerwheels and providedwith a lateral extension at its upperend, a rock-shaft or axis member with which said lateral extension ofthe ragiron is rigidly connected, a crank-arm projection rigid with saidaxis member, and a spring arranged to act upon said crank-arm projectionto force the rag-iron normally toward the sheller-wheels.

5. In a corn-sheller, the combination Witha picker-wheel and afeed-wheel arranged in cooperative relation to each other, of a rag-ironarranged to extend into the angle formed between the operating-faces ofsaid shellerwheels and provided with a lateral extension at its upperend, a rock-shaft or axis member with which said lateral extension ofthe ragiron is rigidly connected, a crank-arm projection rigid with saidaxis member, and a spring arranged to act upon said crank-arm projectionto force the rag-iron normally to ward the sheller-wheels, and anadjustable stop for limiting the approach of the rag-iron under theaction of said sprin 6. In a corn-sheller of the character de scribed,the combination with the main frame provided with the side casings, ofthe pickerwheel and feed-wheel journaled to rotate between said sidecasings, a rag-iron arranged to extend into the angle formed between theoperating-faces of said sheller-wheels and obliquely downwardly andrearwardly, an axis member or rock-shaft journaled upon the exterior ofone of the side casings to extend in a direction substantially parallelwith the general direction of the rag-iron, a lateral extensionconnecting the upper portion of the rag-iron rigidly with saidrockshaft, a crank projection rigid with said rock-shaft, a plate-springmounted upon the interior of the casing member which supports therock-shaft, a tension-bolt connecting the vibratory end of .said springwith the crank projection of the rock-shaft, and an adjustable stop forlimiting the extent of movement of the rag-iron under the tension of thespring.

7. In a corn-sheller of the character de-' scribed, the combination withthe main frame provided with the side casings of the pickerwheel, afeed-wheel journaled to rotate between said side casings, a rag-ironarranged to extend into the angle formed between the operatingfaces ofsaid sheller wheels and obliquely downwardly and rearwardly, an axismember or rock-shaft journaled upon the exterior of the side casings toextend in a direction substantially parallel with the general directionof the rag-iron, a lateral extension connecting the upper portion of theragiro'n rigidly with said rock-shaft, a crank projection rigid withsaid rock-shaft, a platespring mounted upon the interior of the casingmember which supports the rock-shaft and supported from an adjustablebearing whereby its tension may be varied, a tensionbolt connecting thevibratory end of said spring with the crank projection of the rockshaft,and an adjustable stop for limiting the extent of movement of therag-iron under the tension of the spring.

8. In a sheller, the combination with the operating mechanism and thetransverse shafts upon which said mechanism is mounted, of means forjournaling and supporting said shafts from the side casings comprisingcastings adapted to be inserted between the meeting edges of twoadjacent sections of the side casing and each provided at its oppositesides with confining-flanges and intervening grooves adapted to receivethe edges of the casing members and whereby the castings are heldimmovably in position.

9. In combination with a sheller mechanism, and the main frame withinwhich the latter is mounted, of a casting, as 10, made of eye shape incross-section throughout its main length and provided at suitable pointswith journal enlargements and apertures to receive the severaljournal-shafts, as and for the purpose set forth.

FRANK C. PATTEN.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK O. Goonwm, ALBERT H. GRAVES.

